Visual Art Performance Event (VAPE) | Free | Saturday 2 July 10:00 until completed later in the week | location to be announced |

‘Velocity’ Launch | Free | 2 July | 16:00-17:00 |

Blank Toy Workshops | Cost R75 | Book @ Booking Office | 2 July by invitation | 5 July open to all | or 7 July open to all | 9:30-12:30 |

Note: Everything takes place at the exhibition venue, in the Thomas Pringle Hall, 1820 Settlers Monument, unless another venue is specified.

More details about each event can be found below:
___________________________________________________________________

1 July – Co/Mix Walkabout

Take a stroll around this stimulating and unusual exhibition with Jaques de Loustal (France), Ephameron (Belgium), JP Kalonji (Switserland) and Erik kriek (Netherlands) and SA Co/Mix artists. All welcome. Free of charge. (11:30-12:30)_______________________________________________________________________

Co/mix seminars

1 July – ‘Comics Across The Oceans’, a panel discussion between renowned international comic artists Jacques de Loustal (France), Ephameron (Belgium) and South African comic artists, facilitated by Andy Mason. Loustal is famous for his richly illustrated travel journals, while Ephameron has created a series of drawings which construct a comparative visual iconography of everyday life in Belgium and South Africa. (15:00-16:30)

8 July – ‘Cannibal Ogres, Mock Europeans, Faux Tintins and the Hovering Showerhead’, an illustrated lecture by Andy Mason, author of ‘What’s So Funny? Under the Skin of South African Cartooning’. The lecture looks at the visual stereotypes, symbols and icons that populate the history of South African cartooning and satirical art, from the colonial period to the present, culminating in the epic confrontation between Zapiro and Jacob Zuma. (14:00-15:00)

If you love to draw, come along and create your own cartoons at this interactive immersion into the world of comic art, facilitated by local and international artists. The best participants will be selected to proceed to the more advanced Co/Mix Masterclasses (see below). Ages 13 and up. Drawing materials provided. Cost: R40 per person.

If you are mad about comics or have some experience in drawing cartoons, bring some examples of your own work for a crit and create your own comic under the watchful eyes of renowned local and international comic artists. Ages 13 and up. Drawing materials provided or bring your own favourite pens and brushes. Cost: R50 per person.

A legendary crew of young Durban graffiti bandits joins forces with top comic artists to create a legal graffiti wall at an outdoor venue in Grahamstown. Rethink your preconceptions about the aesthetic value of graffiti and discover the tools and techniques behind the artform that upstanding citizens love to hate. Outdoor venue to be announced. All welcome. Free of charge.

CO/MIX Graffiti Wall work begins on Saturday 2 July at 10:00 and continues daily until completion of the wall.

Participants get to customise their own plush toys at these fun, hands-on workshops, facilitated by Pete and Elaine Woodbridge, designers of the funky Woo-men Plush Toys. Each participant will be given a blank plush toy to customise during the workshop, creating their own unique plush character. All materials and tools are provided, including fabric paint, glue, scissors, and an assortment of odd and found objects. Participants may also bring their own materials. The workshops are limited to 12 participants from age 13 upwards. These workshops will appeal to crafters, artists, designers, free thinkers, and anybody who loves to get their hands dirty. No prior experience required. Participants keep their toy afterwards. All welcome. Cost: R75

2 July -Workshop 1 Co/Mix Artists only (by invitation). Observers welcome. Toys created at this workshop will become part of the exhibition. 9:30-12:30

Velocity Graphic Novel Anthology is a Fantasy & Sci-Fi themed collaboration between 25 South African and Australian artists to create not only a fantastic read, but to also be a showpiece of the talent from both countries.

The power of fantasy and sci-fi lies in its ability to enable the artist to export problems, ideas and concepts into alternate realities and explore these ideas free from emotive ties to the real world. Velocity exists to give the artists exactly that kind of leeway.

The first issue will be launched in June in Australia, with a South African launch to follow on 2 July 2011 at the National arts Festival in Grahamstown as part of the Co/Mix exhibition.

The Velocity Graphic Novel Anthology is organised by Moray Rhoda in SA and by Neville Howard in Australia.

And so… Here we go! Words&Images the blog is up!
Hooray and to infinity and beyond, I dare say..

My name is Lieve, and together with Andy, we will populate this blog to the greater glory of comic art! But first, let me introduce myself..

I grew up in Belgium, land of chocolates, beer and comics. Barely out of my diapers I discovered some comic books (strips as we call them over there) in my brother’s room. Before I knew it I had finished the whole lot of them and was desperate for more. Throwing a tantrum was not an option in our house so in stead i sneaked out to my brother’s clubhouse and discovered their treasure cabinet, a huge cupboard with comics losely pilled up as if they were newspapers. Obviously these boys don’t know the value of treasure, I thought, and so I decided to transfer this treasure to my own quarters. This was the beginning of my lifeling addiction to strips, bande-desinees, comics, strookies and whatever else you may call them.

Today, long out of my diapers, I am a proud associate of Words & Images, Comic Art Communication. Andy Mason and I have been thinking around this company for more than a year but only started working together in February. Andy Mason is a renowned artist and a walking comic library. His creative brain boils with brilliant ideas which absolutely need implementation. Hence, my role as the practical brain. The company is now in its diapers, but has already managed 2 Master Classes, produced 2 educational comics and a local comic called 3Ayhe!

This blog will not only give you more info on our projects – master classes, exhibitions, workshops, comic production, seminars, festivals, etc. – but will also inform you on whatever is up in the field of comic art in South Africa and internationally.